Metal barrel



June 6, 1939. F. GETTELMAN 6 METAL BARREL Filed Sept. 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 6, l93 9 UNITED 1 STATES ATaNfr OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in metal barrels.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved metal barrel which will be at least as light, and preferably lighter, in weight than a wooden barrel, which will be so formed and shaped that it may; be washed, filled and handled in all respects as well as a wooden barrel, which will provide an into terior chamber having a perfectly smooth interior surface of such contour as to drain freely to the bung fitting, and which will havea bilge or girth band of such design and dimensions and proportions with respect to .said chamber 15 as to support the bung fitting and to sustain the entire weight of the barrel with a minimum of possibility of injury either to the band or the chamber or vessel in which the contents'of the barrel are confined.

- The, proper formation and proportionate dimensions of the band, and its application to the container, is a matter of great importance, and

a great many factors require consideration. The

barrel must be so designed as to be'adapted for use in conventional filling and washing and handling equipment. The bung fitting must preferably be designed to receive a conventional wooden bung, which is by far the simplest and quickest means of closing the bung opening. Such a 0 bung is applied with a heavy hammer blow, the impact of which must be taken into account in the construction of the barrel.

When the barrel is filled and closed it is a heavy object which the workmen do not have time to handle as carefully and slowly as they would ordinarily handle other objects of like weight. Consequently the filled barrels are fre- I quently dropped and otherwise abused in handling, and the construction of the barrel must be 0 such as to minimize the injury both to the inner chamber and to the encircling band, which is one of the features of the present invention. If the inner chamber is badly dented, the, interior coating may be broken or damaged, and also the 45 change inform may interfere with the'proper drainage and cleaning of the barrel. If the outer band is unduly indented the barrel will not be adapted for proper guidance when the barrel is being "rolled:

0 'I have found that all of the foregoing considerations make it extremely important that the barrel be designed in accordance with the present 'inventio'mt'o' provide a girth band of such convexity that" its central peripheral portion will 5 engage andsupport the bung fitting and its marginal portions will engage the storage chamber at points intermediate the bung fitting and the a ends of said chamber. 1

The; fact that the girth band engages the bung fitting at its end, and marginally engages the central chamber or cask at points spaced from the bung fitting provides a semi-rigid brace for the bung fitting which permits it to yield but slightly under the hammer blow which drives the-bung, and rather positively anchors the bung "fitting against such, displacement as might ,tend

to break its connection with the inner chamber or cask.

.If the span of the convex girth band longi- .tudina-lly of the barrel is unduly short, the weight of the barrel and its contents will be unduly con- .rcentrate'd upon the intermediate portion of the inner chamber orcask, thereby tending tomake theinner chamber dent readily when the barrel is dropped under full load. If, on the other" hand, the girth band is unduly elongated so that its margins are engaged with the inner chamber or cask only at the ends thereof, then the convexity of the band will be so slight that unless its weight is increased beyond practical limits, the band itself will be subject to excessive denting.

In order to provide the best possible support for the barreland its contents with a minimum weight of material both in the band and in the inner chamber or cask, it is quite desirable that the construction be such that the pressure of the band shall be transmitted to the inner chamber or cask as nearly as possible directly midway of the distance between the center or bilge and the ends of the chamber or cask. Therefore,

the margins of the girth band preferablyengage the inner chamber or cask along these particular midway lines; or some equivalent means is provided for distributing the lead over the general area -adjacent either side of said lines, whereby to secure equivalent support.

It is a further object in some of the constructions hereinafter to be disclosed, to utilize the space between the walls of a double walled barrel for the thermal insulation of the barrel contents.

It is a further object of other embodiments of the invention to provide for the use of light and comparatively soft materials in barrel construction, and to reinforce such materials in a way to facilitate the assembly and to minimize the weight of the completed barrel.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in axial section, of a barrel embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail in like section through a barrel representing a modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a view in like section showing a portion of a further modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a view in like section showing a further modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows partially in side elevation and partially in axial section, a further modification of the invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail showing in plan the bung fitting of 'a barrel similar to that shown in Figure 5 but slightly modified.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail in crosssection through a portion of a modified embodiment of the invention. t

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail in cross section through a further modified. embodiment of the invention.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the severalviews.

The container proper comprises a shell Swhich may be made up of two separate and portions welded together about a central line 6, which preferably represents a larger diameter than the diameter of the shell adjacent its heads I.

The heads 1 are preferably convex, so that all portions of the shell 5 will drain toward any point thereof which happens to be lowermost. This feature is of great advantage not only in emptying the barrel, but particularly in washing.

Projecting beyond each head of the barrel at the ends thereof, is an annulusB-conforming to the taper of the barrel and welded thereto at 8 to comprise a chine. Each annulus is preferably provided with a series of ports Ill so that when.

the barrel is standing on end any liquids tending to accumulate within the annulus 8 will. be drained therefrom to protect the metal from cor rosion.

The chines 8 are preferably made of relatively heavy metal as compared with the container 5.

They are heavily beaded at H to withstand thev hard usage encountered during the manipulation of the barrelin practice.

Fully protected by one of the chines 8 is a tap fitting l5 which includes a sleeve l1 adapted to receive a stopper l8 and flanged over at id to provide anchorage for a detachable cap Zil. In the respect just described the fitting [5 may be of any conventional type.

In order to receive the government stamp, the fitting i5 is preferably provided with a rather QX? tensive planiform surface at 2| to which astamp or seal 22 may be applied over the cap 20 and the stopper l8. To protect the stamp while the barrel is in transit it is preferred that the fitting l5 be formed to provide tongues at 24 over whichthe apertured ends of an elastic protector 25may be engaged. The protector may conveniently'be made of rubber or elastic fabric.

One of the very important features of the invention consists in the provision of a convex girth band 38 applied about the central, maximum diameter portions of the shell 5. The convexity of this band 36 ismuch greater than that of the shell itself, so that a comparatively wide space is formed at 3| which is su'fiflcient to receive the inwardly tapered bung fitting 32. This bung fitting is of sufficient dimensions to receive and properly to hold a tapered bung plug 33 of adequate size, without any projection of said bung beyond the girth band 30. The fitting is preferably shouldered outwardly at 34 to expose the end of the bung.

Together the band 39 and the chines 8 comprise means for rigidly reinforcing and strengthening the shell 5 which may consequently be made of relatively light material. If desired the chines 8 and the girth band 30 may be so extended as to contact each other and permit of a weld uniting these elements as, shown at 35 in Fig. 4. Either construction permits the shell or container properto be made of relatively thin and light weight material, since the girth band 30 and the chines 8 at the ends of the barrel are, in either case, so positioned as to take all shocks during the rolling and upending of the barrels. The girth band 30 not only protects the barrel but greatly facilitates the rolling and the upending thereof.

It will be obvious from an inspection of any one of the sectional views Figs. 1 to 5, that when the central cask or shell is filled and the barrel is thrown upon or is resting upon the band 30, the load will, under all circumstances,be properly distributed. Roughly, the length of the barrel may be considered as being divided into quarters, the bung fitting being located midway between the ends and the margins of the bilge band being so connected to the central cask or shell as to receive and transmit load from and .to the portions ofv the shell midway between the bung fitting and the respective ends. Thus-itmay be considered that one half of the contents of the barrel will rest approximately centered uponone margin ofthe girth band, while the other half of the contents of the barrel will be, roughly centered above the other margin of such band. It is demonstratable that not only is theweight better distributed through this particular construction, but alsothe convexity of the band in this form is better adapted to protect both the band and the shell from damage than wouldbe the case if the band were either materially wider or materially narrower. i Y

In Figs. 2 and 3 I'have shown a thermallyin- .9" tothe girth band 30 and are spaced from the ends of receptacle 5 either by means of'ring's' 52,

as in Fig. 2, or by integral internally formed ribs 53, asinFig. 3. r

In either case thefinal weld 54 may,';asfa matter of convenience, be made by forming the annulus a with peripherally spaced slots 55 through w n the welding material 54 extends to join'jthe annulus 8 with the underlying surface. h, H

False heads 56 are welded to annuli 8 and serve to complete an enclosure about the inner receptacle 5. The space within girth band 30. and annuli 8 in this form of construction is insulated either through the use of a suitable insulating material or by withdrawal of the airto produce such degree-of vacuum as is practicable.

The construction shown in Figs. 2and3 1etains all. the advantages of the above described constructions so far as concerns clearance in which the bung hole and tap fittings maybe located. Additionally, constructions shown in Figs:-2and 3 The construction shown in Figsrti to 8 inclusive, are directed to further reductionsin weight.

-I have discovered that notwithstandingthe requirements in the matter of dimensions and weight of stock, the weight of the girth band may "be reduced and at the same time its strength may "even be increased by providing it with a series of apertures not only to eliminate a largeproportion of the metal, but also to form flanges about the-margins of such apertures, which act as reinforcing ribs for the band. v

The general convexity and proportions of the girth band correspond identically to those previously described. The band is, however, preferably punched throughout its extent with holes such as those shown at 3B, the metal girth band adjacent each hole being formed inwardly, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8, to make a narrow reinforcing flange 31.

Since a substantial amount of material is removed the weight of the girth band is appreciably lightened, and experience demonstrates that even Ways.

without the formation of flanges 31 the girth band will not be materially weakened. When the flanges are used the band may actually beincreased-in strength to permit the use either of a lighter weight of metal, where the metal is inher-' ently rigid, or the use of a greater thickness of metal for a given weight where the metal is more flexible, as in the case of aluminum.

While the girth band will ordinarily be welded to the shell, it is possible to fasten it by another means, without using rivets. Rivets may be used without leakage, due to the fact that the interior of such a barrel is ordinarily pitched in any event. The application of rivets to such a barrel with closed heads may, however, be a diificult operation.

In the construction shown in Fig. 7 the material comprising the shell 5 has been grooved at 38 and the marginal portions 39 of the girth band 30 have been shrunk into the grooves 38 to establish a permanent connection between the girth band and the barrel. The engagement betweenthe parts may The band may be heated preliminary to placing it over the barrel and then shrunk into place, or, preferably, the marginal portions of the band are rolled or otherwise compressed to force them into the grooves 38, whereby they are fixed against axial displacement.

In the 'Fig. 8 construction the component portions 1 of the shell 5 have enlarged central portions 40, the formation of such portions resulting except for the bung fitting 32, and which therebyprovides a perfectly smooth path for the rolling of the barrel. The holes, however, will in any eventybe sufficiently small with reference to the total diameter of the barrel so that they will not be effected in either of two interfere to any perceptible .degree with the rolling of the barrel even when the holes are staggered across the inner surface of the girth band as shown in Fig. 5.

I claim:

1. In a barrel, the combination with an inner shell adapted to contain a liquid, of a bung fitting applied to a central portion of the side of said shell and connected at its inner end to the shell,

a ,girth, band encircling the central portions of of cup shaped members with convex heads mar-f ginally united to comprise a closed shell for the retention of liquids, a bung fitting communicating with 'the interior of said shell and connected therewith substantially uponthe center line upon which said members are united, a girth band of convex cross section having its central portion connected to the outer end of said bungfitting and marginally contacting portions of said shell intermediate said center line and the respective ends of said members, whereby to enclose and relieve of load the line of union between said members and to provide substantially uniformly distributed load bearing support for said shell and its contents.

3. In a barrel, the combination with a metallic shell having a lateral aperture, of'a bung fitting applied to said shell in such a manner that all portions of said shell may be drained therethrough, and an annular girth band completely encircling said shell and laterally secured thereto along lines spaced from said bung fitting toward the ends of said shell but remote from such ends, and intermediate portions of said band being convexly bowed from an intermediate portion of greatest radius smoothly to said shell to provide a spacing from said shell sufliciently deep to receive wholly said bung fitting, whereby said fitting and a hung therein are protected during the manipulation of the barrel and whereby a load upon said band subjects the band to compression its center and its respective ends.

.4. Ida barrel, the combination with a pair of cupshaped sections joined upon a median line to v constitutea liquid containing shell and provided adjacent-said line with an aperture, of a hung fitting applied to said shell at said aperture for full drainage of the contents of the shell through said bung fitting, said bung fitting projecting, radially from the shell, of a girth band encircling the central portion of the shell and spaced therefrom for a distance substantially equal to the radial projection of the bung fitting, said girth band being apertured in registry with the bung fitting and secured marginally thereto, and the margins of the girth band being secured to the shell intermediate said median line and the ends of the shell, said shell including means providing spaced shoulders within the girth band and about which the margins of the girth band extend to their connection with the shell.

5. In a barrel, the combination with an inner shell comprising a pair oi cup-shaped elements is providing ends for the shell and joined to each other upon a median line, said shell being apertured adjacent said line, of a hung fitting connected with the shell about the aperture and pro-.- jecting radially therefrom, and a girth band having an aperture registering with the end of the bung fitting and secured to the bung fitting at such end and convexly contoured axially of the shell to provide a central rolling portion from which said band extends convexly and free of convolutions under compression to the shell, the margins of said band being connected with the shellsubstantially midway between said median line and the ends of the shell, and said shell having an enlarged central portion providing shoulders within and immediately adjacent the margins of said band and about which said band extends.

6. In a barrel, the combination with a metallic shell having a lateral aperture, of a bung fitting applied to said shell in such a manner that all portions of said shell may be drained therethrough, said shell being provided with peripheral shoulders spaced between said bung fitting and its respective ends and an annular girth band completely encircling said shell and laterally secured thereto about said shoulders along lines spaced from said bung fitting toward the ends of said shell but remote from such ends, and intermediate portions of said band being convexly bowedfrom an intermediate portion of greatest radius smoothly to said shell to provide a spacing from said shell sufliciently deep to receive wholly said bung fitting, whereby sald fitting-and a bung therein are protected during the manipulation of the barrel, and whereby a load upon said band subjects the band to compression without substantial bending strains and said load is distributed to portions of saidshell intermediate its center and its respective ends.

" '7. In a barrel, the co'i'nblnation with a metallic shell having a lateral aperture in a central portion and provided intermediate the aperture and the ends of said shell with peripherally shouldered portions spaced from said aperture and from said ends, of a hung fitting applied to said shell in such a manner that all portions of said shell may be drained therethrough, and a girth band of convex cross section centrally connected with said bung fitting in spaced relation to the shell at a distance suflicient to receive wholly said bung fitting and marginally engaging the shouldered portions of the shell, whereby to be positioned by said shouldered portions and to brace said bung fitting from the shell and protect it from injury while providing a peripheral rolling surface for the barrel, and adapted to distribute a load under compression without substantial bending strains to said shell intermediate its center and its respective ends.

F'REDRICK GE'I'I'ELMAN. 

